Rail connector and brace.



P. GARRIGAN. RAIL CONNECTOR AND BRACE. APPLICATION FILED 111111.16, 1914 Patented Dec. 15. 1914.

PATSY CARBIGAN, or BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

RAIL CONNECTOR AND BRACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application .filed March 16, 1914 Serial No. 825,032.

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATSY CARRIGAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Connectors and Braces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates torail connectors and braces, and,'while primarily designed for connecting and bracing railway rails, may also be employed for adjustably connecting and bracing other rails, bars'or structural elements.

The primary object of. the invention is to provide a coupling connection whereby rails or like elements may be held firmly in their correct relative positions against spreading, and whereby adjustment is afforded to maintain the rails or connected elements in proper position and to permit of their relative adjustment in a ready and convenient manner when occasion requires.

A further object of the. invention is to provide a coupling connection and brace which is composed of a pair of main sections adjustably connected together, each main section in turn being adjustably and detachably connected, whereby either main section may be adjusted independently of.

the other and also independently connected with or disconnected from the rail or other element to be braced, rendering the device.

of particular service and value in railway track repair and construction'work.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rail connector and brace constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through a portion of the device.

In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a connector and brace comprising duplicate members 1 and 2, each consisting of a plurality of sections terminating at their inner or adjacent ends in rods 3 which are threaded for the reception: of a turn buckle 4, whereby the connector and brace as a whole may be adjusted as to length and V the two members held securely connected.

Lock nuts 5 are provided to engage the rods 7 with engaging teeth 15,

3 and abut against the ends of the turn buckle 4 to hold the latter from casual retrograde movement, thus insuring a safe and reliable connection.

Each member 1 and 2 is composed of a pair of sections 6 and 7, the section 7 being preferably integral with while the section 6 carries at its outer end a clip 8 of suitable form to receive and engage the base ofthe rail. The clips 8 of the two members 1 and 2 are adapted when applied to the rails of a track, or to other structural elements, to hold the same firmly united and to sustain them against lateral pressures, thus effectually bracing the rails or structural parts against spreading or relative displacement.

In practice, the clip 8 may be formed independently of the section 6, and said plate and section 6 may be formed with lapping plates 9 and 10 respectively, which are riveted, welded or otherwise firmly united.

The sections 6 and 7 are adjustably connected together and for this purpose are provided with lapping plates 11 and 12 formed with terminal abutment shoulders 13 and 14: whereby their relative inward movement for shortening the length of the coupling member is limited. The meeting faces of these plates 11 and 12 are provided by which when the plates are held assembled they are locked firmly against relative movement. The plates are formed with longitudinal slots 16,

through which pass a fastening bolt 17 provided with a clampingnut 18 arranged to bear a ainst a Washer 19 the washer bein 2:! 7 b Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

the rod 3, as shown, 7

clamped by the nut against one of the plates, 7

while the head of the bolt is clamped against the other plate, thus maintaining the teeth of the plates in interlocking engagement. By removing or slacking the nut to a sufficient extent to permit the toothed faces of the plates to separate, it is evident that said plates may be adjusted longitudinally on each other to vary the length of the coupling member, and that after adjustment has been made thenut may be tightened to look the plates again securely together. My invention is especially designed for connecting the rails of railway tracks, to hold the rails braced firmly against spreading or moving out of their proper relative positions under the stresses and strains to which they are subjected. It will be observed that the adand 2, as well as the adjustable connections between the sectionszof each member, permit the brace to beadju'sted to a wide d'egree to suit the distance between the rails,

while-permitting any slack or looseness tom be" taken up by simplyadjustingthe turn buckle, so that the proper the rails can justment aflorded by sufficient, I tween the sections of'each' member I and'2 permit-2 of a further-range of adjustment, and it will be observed that these sections of" each member are also detachably con- 'nected, allowing either rail to be shifted or w and unscrewing. said'member at the turn buckle connection" or" disconnecting the outer section of the member from the inner section 'thereofby removal'pof the. bolt 17, the convenience of'which may be manifest. The

7 Copies of this-patent may be-obtained for distance between be maintained; Where the adthe turn buckle isnot the adjustable connections beinventioii willalso bi round iis'e'rili and advantageous in connecting other rails or bars or structural elements to hold the same vbraced and against relative movement, while permitting adjustments, repairs and Having thus claim":

A connector described my invention, I

ing of a pair of sections and engag ng member, section's being PIOVldQfl respectively, said passing through'the slots 1n sai'd'plates and adapted to" hold the re-. rmovals to be made with ease and facility,

with longitudinally slotted toothed interlocking plates, bolts toothed faces thereof and brace comprising duplicate members, each'h aving a tlireaded frod, at itslinner end anda rail-engaging clip at its-outerlend, each of said members consistcarrying the'rod',

interlocked, and. a turn buckleuniting the cate members;

In" testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses:

PATSY GARRIGAN. I

lVitnesses ALEX. KEADY, T. WV. Brown five centseach, byaddressing the Gommissibncr of ratents, Washington; I). 03'" threaded rods at the inner ends of the "dupli- 

